Nigel Oscar Weiss. 16 December 1936—24 June 2020

Abstract

Nigel Weiss was an astrophysicist and applied mathematician, born in South Africa but based in Cambridge for most of his career. He made a number of important contributions to the study of sunspots, where he produced a detailed model of their complex structure. He also made important contributions to theory of the solar 22-year magnetic cycle, using pioneering numerical modelling and drawing attention to the dynamical effects of symmetry breaking and of historic proxy data through observations of radioactive isotopes in tree rings and ice cores. A major part of his work was the numerical and theoretical investigation of many aspects of the interaction of magnetic fields with thermal convection in the Sun and stars. The numerical studies in particular were pioneering in the context of computer resources at that time. He led a talented group of students and postdocs, many of whom have held senior positions in UK and US universities. He combined great physical insight with expertise in numerical computation, nonlinear dynamics and bifurcation theory, and was an inspirational supervisor and mentor, combining high academic standards with an open generous nature. Apart from his work he had a strong interest in twentieth-century art and served on the National Gallery Consultative Group for many years.